UN: Israeli withdrawal from Ghajar will be a positive step

During an interview with the National News Agency (NNA) published on Sunday , UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams said that an Israeli withdrawal from the northern part of the disputed village of Ghajar would not by itself mean that UN Security Council Resolution 1701 has been completely implemented. (more…)

Hezbollah MP launches another attack against STL

MP Mohammad Raad , who heads the Hezbollah parliamentary bloc launched another attack against the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) and issued another warning toady :

“We are extending time until an agreement is achieved, and before Israel harms our stability and incites strife among the Lebanese by fabricating a forged Special Tribunal for Lebanon indictment,” Raad said in a speech in Nabatiyeh on Sunday. (more…)

Israel concerned that French HOT missiles will go to Hezbollah

Israeli newspaper Jerusalem post has reported that Israel is concerned by the possible transfer of French anti-tank missiles to Lebanon.

This comes after Paris has informed Beirut it is prepared to sell 100 HOT missiles to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). (more…)

Gemayel: Syria decided to stop assassinations in Lebanon

The son of former Lebanese president Bashir Gemayel, Phalange MP Nadim Gemayel said on Sunday during an interview with Voice of Lebanon (VOL) that “The assassinations of Lebanese leaders stopped when Syria decided to stop them.”

“There is a certain party that is targeted and another that is responsible,” (more…)

Issa recasts self as Washington’s whistleblower

Many democrats seem fearful about the intentions of Darrell Issa, the incoming Lebanese-American Chairman of the House Committee for Oversight and Government Reform.

Fired Iranian FM: Dismissal was undiplomatic, un-Islamic, offensive

Iran’s former foreign minister indirectly criticized the president Sunday for abruptly firing him last week during the middle of an official visit to Africa, saying his dismissal was “undiplomatic , un-Islamic and offensive” and caught him unaware.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced the decision to fire Manouchehr Mottaki while he was on a diplomatic mission to Senegal. (more…)

Lebanon awaits STL indictment

The Beirut government is in paralysis, business deals are on hold and rumours abound as Lebanon anxiously awaits indictments by a UN tribunal probing former premier Rafiq Hariri’s murder.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) said on December 9 that the confidential contents of the indictments for the 2005 killing of Hariri and 22 others in a Beirut blast would be filed for confirmation “very, very soon.” (more…)

MENA region will experience robust growth in 2011

Most oil exporters of the MENA (Middle East & North Africa) region will experience higher GDP (gross domestic product) in 2011. Gulf oil sector growth is likely in 2011, although nonoil private and government sectors will be the key catalysts for real GDP growth, Crédit Agricole CIB said in its latest report prepared by John Sfakianakis, Crédit Agricole CIB chief economist for the MENA region. (more…)

Israeli military strike kills 5 Palestinians in Gaza, report

An Israeli military strike killed five Palestinians in central Gaza on Saturday night, the Palestinian Authority’s official news agency reported.

The Israel Defense Forces said, in a statement, that its aircraft “targeted” and struck “a squad of terror operatives who were preparing to launch rockets towards Israeli territory” from that area. The statement did not detail if there were any fatalities as a result. (more…)

Lebanon Complains to U.N. about Israeli spy devices

Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs filed a complaint against Israel to the UN Security Council through its permanent mission at the UN regarding Israeli spying devices that were recently discovered by the Lebanese army on Mount Sannine in the upper Metn region and Barouk Mountain in the Shouf region. (more…)